Outcome & Impact
The outcomes related to the action are as follows:
- To create awareness among SMEs, local farmers and women and young entrepreneurs on the business opportunities in the extraction and processing of natural fibres.
- To understand the requirements of the stakeholders, by having focused group discussions with representatives from the manufacturing and various economic sectors on specific green functional products with a view to replacing petroleum-based plastics;
- To increase the number of trainers in the local community, who would further disseminate the opportunities in the use of natural fibres as raw materials, and at the same time catalyse the engagement of SMEs/local farmers/clusters/cooperative associations, vulnerable groups, women and youth associations as well as entrepreneurs in this new venture of the extraction of agro-waste fibres and processing of the same;
- To build climate change resilience capacity and enhanced know-how and skills for the local SMEs/farmers/clusters/cooperative associations to effectively use agro-wastes in order to produce a valuable source of renewable and sustainable raw materials to support the SMEs, handicraft and the manufacturing sectors;
- To build capacity among SMEs/farmers/clusters/cooperative associations, vulnerable groups, women and youth associations and NGOs for developing high value eco-friendly products; and
- To sustain the development of applied research at the Pole of Research on Natural Fibres and Bio-Composites at the University of Mauritius in order to help farmers and entrepreneurs through Research & Development to development new green functional products with strong potential for commercialisation.
The overall results & impact of the action would be:
The overall results & impact of the action would be:
Improved livelihoods of the local SMEs/farmers, women & young entrepreneurs by providing new opportunities for additional sources of income and help in poverty alleviation;
Provide renewable and sustainable sources of raw materials to the manufacturing and handicraft sectors;
Significantly decrease the adverse environmental impact of burning or burying in landfill of the agro-wastes;
The nucleation of a new micro/cottage-industry revolving about the use of natural fibres and the development of a wide range of new green functional products;
Mitigate the repercussions of Covid-19 on the local economy.